(HARLINGEN) – The Veterans Center at Texas State Technical College hosted its annual Veterans Day Celebration in honor of employee and student veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

But this year, TSTC and the Veterans Center also posthumously honored U.S. military veteran Troy Davis, a TSTC Biology graduate and former Veterans Center work-study program employee who passed away only a few weeks ago.

Davis earned his associate degree in Spring 2018 and was working on completing his academic core.

In his work-study position at the Veterans Center, he made it his mission to help those transitioning into civilian life and back into college.

“We’re all saddened by his loss,” said Steve Guevara, TSTC Veterans Center director. “He was working hard and on the path to success. We lost him too soon, but his memory lives on.”

To continue Davis’ legacy and honor his military service, Guevara announced during the ceremony that the veteran scholarship created by the Veteran Students Alliance Club in 2013 will now be called the Troy E. Davis Memorial Scholarship.

The funds for the scholarship are raised annually by the club and awarded to three student veterans. The individual scholarships are valued at $300.

“We want our students and employees to know that we support them every day of the year,” said Guevara. “The Veterans Day Celebration and lunch is a token of our appreciation to show them how thankful we are for their service and sacrifice to this country.”

TSTC serves 500 veterans statewide and 139 in Harlingen, in addition to the number of veterans who work at TSTC.

One of those veterans is Erica Gonzalez, a student recruitment coordinator at the college, who shared her story during the ceremony.

Gonzalez was a migrant worker and an avid athlete when September 11, 2001, set her path.

“I walked into the locker room after cross-country, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. But I knew this would be a day we would never forget,” she said. “This is when I became driven to join the armed forces.”

After attending one semester at the University of Texas-Pan American on a full athletic scholarship, Gonzalez enlisted.

She served four years in the Army under the Military Police Corps, stationed in Germany.

“It is an honor to serve in the military, to answer the call of duty, and to raise your right hand and vow to protect this beautiful nation,” she said. “It taught me integrity and how to stand strong for all of our brothers and sisters who we know, who we don’t know, and the ones we may never know.”

The program also included remarks from master of ceremonies and TSTC Computer Networking and Security Technology student Johnny Rivera, the presentation and retiring of colors by Harlingen High School South JROTC, a Prisoner of War and Missing in Action presentation by the American Legion 15^th District Drill team, and recognitions by TSTC veterans program officer Jose Villegas.

“We are so blessed to live in a country with so many opportunities and freedoms because of the sacrifice and service from these brave men and women. Freedom comes with a price,” said TSTC Provost Cledia Hernandez. “TSTC is dedicated to helping veterans transition not only into college, but into civilian life. It is an honor to be able to help them.”

TSTC in Harlingen has been recognized as a Military-Friendly School for eight straight years, and the college has been recognized statewide as a Military-Friendly School for three years.

The TSTC Veterans Center serves as a centralized, one-stop shop for prospective and current students who are veterans, as well as their dependents. The center assists with admission, financial aid, GI Bill and Hazlewood applications. There is also a variety of services, such as internal and external referrals, that veteran students can benefit from.

In addition to the Veterans Center, TSTC also offers competency-based learning for veterans who have gained applicable skills through their service in the military.

For more information on the Veterans Center, call 956-364-4387 or visit tstc.edu/veterans.

(HARLINGEN) – Tristan Leal is pursuing an associate degree in Biology at Texas State Technical College. The 18-year-old expects to graduate in Fall 2019.

When the Mercedes native is not in the classroom or at the library, he participates in community service events and fundraisers as an active member of the TSTC Intramural Sports Club and Veteran Students Alliance Club.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate with my associate degree in Biology, I plan on returning to TSTC to pursue a certificate in Dental Assistant and a second associate degree in Dental Hygiene.

What’s your dream job?

My dream job is to become a dental hygienist so I can teach proper oral health care and help people be proud of their smiles. But I do have the long-term goal of becoming a bioengineer to design and manufacture human organs such as hearts.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

I’ve been homeschooled my entire life, so I’ve grown up to be very introverted. Being able to step foot on campus and have social interactions has been very good for me. It has helped me break out of my shell and be more outgoing. For me, this is a huge accomplishment.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

The greatest lesson I have learned is that it’s better to try something than to live with the “What if.”

Who at TSTC has had the greatest influence on your success?

My Anatomy and Physiology Instructor Paul Leonard has had the greatest influence on my success. He has always made me feel welcomed in class and at TSTC. He also eases my anxiety about speaking up in class and working in groups, along with encouraging me to get involved in campus activities.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

My advice for future TSTC students is to always ask for assistance. TSTC has so many resources to help students succeed; take advantage of them.

(HARLINGEN) – She was only 26-years-old when she came to Texas State Technical College as a counselor in Student Services. Now 30 years later, Liz Silva is closing this career chapter in her life to become Dr. Liz Silva.

“TSTC was my first job out of college,” she said. “It has been my entire professional career. So leaving a place that means so much is tough, but it’s time to devote my efforts toward completing my education.”

Silva retired last month from TSTC and her dedication and service to the college was celebrated this week with her colleagues and many of her past students.

“I grew up at TSTC,” said Silva. “I always knew I wanted to be a counselor in higher education. I come from a family of educators and TSTC was my dream job.”

The Mercedes native grew up in a migrant family. Her mother, father and six older siblings worked the fields, and in their family it was never the question of “If you go to college,” it was “Where are you going to college?”

“I was the youngest child so compared to my siblings I didn’t do much migrant work,” she said. “But I definitely had people to look up to when it came to college and careers.”

With the death of her father at 14, and her mother at 19, Silva was raised by her siblings. By this time they had careers and had completed undergrad and graduate degrees.

Silva followed in their footsteps and earned a bachelor’s degree from Pan American University in 1984 in psychology and a master’s in 1987 in guidance and counseling from the University of Texas-Pan American. She is now working on a doctorate degree in educational leadership at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

“We have all seen success and put education at the forefront of everything. We have seen first-hand how it can change a life,” said Silva. “And my brothers and sisters have been a big influence on my success.”

Within the next year Silva will earn her doctoral degree and said this is what sparked her decision to retire.

“My brother, who was one of my biggest supporters, passed away last year. It’s been hard, he practically raised me,” said Silva. “And his dream was to see me become Dr. Liz Silva, so I’m finishing this for him. I want to make him proud.”

Silva said the decision to retire was not considered lightly. She has enjoyed being a part of the TSTC family and making a difference in students’ lives.

And although she climbed the ladder at TSTC from counselor, director of Student Life, director of Counseling, director of Support Services to her latest role as executive director of Student Support Services, Silva said her heart has always taken her back to counseling.

“Everything I do is for the students,” she said. “I have dedicated my career to helping them achieve success and build their careers because that is what’s most important to me. And seeing them succeed makes everything worthwhile.”

She said she has always made it a point to interact with students outside of an office setting because that’s how she is able to earn their trust and confidence to seek her when they have an issue.

“I’ve always believed as a counselor that sitting in my office was not helping students,” she said. “It’s putting your boots to the ground and working among them that makes all the difference.”

Silva discovered this by not only serving as the TSTC Student Government Association advisor for most of her career, but also with the help of her mentors and former TSTC employees Cathy Maples, Roy Cavazos and Servando Villarreal, who all served as either directors or vice presidents during their tenure at the college.

“These are the people who taught me what I know. They are the ones who also dedicated their lives to their students,” she said. “They taught me patience and professionalism and helped guide me.”

The highlights of Silva’s career were exposing students to new experiences whether through student leadership on campus or through out-of-town conferences, and every commencement ceremony where she would see her students cross the finish line at TSTC.

Veronica Sanchez, a 2009 graduate from TSTC’s Dental Hygiene program, worked closely with Silva during her time as Student Government Association president and said that it was Silva’s positive influence that gave her the confidence she needed.

“Liz always has a smile for you. Her persistent drive to provide an excellent experience for students is inspiring,” said Sanchez. “She understands how much hard work it takes to be a student. Without her my professional life may have never been ignited. And I thank her for always serving and leading the way for students.”

Thirty years is a long time and while she will miss her colleagues, Silva said she will miss the students the most, and not so much the impact she made on them, but the impact they made on her.

“I learned a lot from my students,” she said. “They taught me a lot about myself and life in general. They have made my career a rewarding one.”

Silva hopes that once she completes her doctoral degree she can return to working in higher education, but this time in a classroom setting as a professor in her field to continue making a difference and inspiring students’ lives.

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College Registered Nursing student Michael Ortiz swapped his nursing tools for gardening tools during National Make a Difference Day, an annual community service event which is held the fourth Saturday in October.

On this day, thousands across the United States volunteer in their local communities and TSTC is no different.

Ortiz was one of more than 100 student leaders who gathered to plant more than 200 trees along the expressway at the corner of Lincoln Ave. and Frontage Rd. in Harlingen.

“As a nursing club we feel it is important to give back to our community,” said Ortiz. “This is our biggest project every year. We take pride in Harlingen and our surrounding communities and we want to give people something they can enjoy when they drive past this intersection and help make a difference.”

TSTC Student Life Coordinator Belinda Palomino said students at TSTC have participated in National Make a Difference Day for more than a decade and she is proud to see that every year the anticipation and participation for the event continues to increase.

“It’s so crucial to give our students these type of experiences,” she said. “It makes me proud to see them so engaged and involved in their communities. This is an important life lesson.”

In addition to giving back to their communities, Palomino said doing community service teaches students teamwork, team building, adaptability, critical thinking and problem solving.

“By participating in National Make a Difference Day and other community service projects throughout the year, they get to learn soft skills, professional skills, they may otherwise not learn in a classroom,” she said.

Which is also why TSTC Director of Student Services Griselda Sanchez and Human Resources Senior Specialist Lupe Deloera from TSTC in Sweetwater decided to travel seven hours south for National Make a Difference Day with their Student Government Association officers Javier Rocha, vice president; Joshlyn Tovar, secretary; Elizabeth Guevara, treasurer; and Brett Paniagua, senator.

“This was a great experience for all of us,” said Sanchez. “I’m so proud of the work everyone did and the difference they have made in the community. We will be taking what we learned back to Sweetwater so that we can begin implementing programs like this in our community. It’s been a great learning experience.”

Although the students will do a similar community service project in Sweetwater and will work to beautify the TSTC campus with plants and flowers, they wanted to experience the large-scale event hosted by TSTC in Harlingen.

“We’ve always heard this is a huge event for TSTC in Harlingen and we were excited to join them this year. And although planting trees is tiring, we’re proud to know we’ve made a difference,” said Rocha. “This particular group has really been helpful in growing our SGA in Sweetwater and it’s been great sharing ideas and advice.”

Palomino said the success of this year’s event is credited to the partnership and help from Keep Harlingen Beautiful and the City of Harlingen.

“They donate shirts and provide shovels, supplies and their time,” said Palomino. “TSTC and our students have a great working relationship with them and our partnership is strong.”

Executive Director of Keep Harlingen Beautiful Melissa Boykin said she is amazed at the number of volunteers that participated in National Make a Difference Day.

“TSTC always comes through for us,” said Boykin. “The work they do all year long has a profound impact on our community. They are our biggest recyclers, they beautify our community and enhance Harlingen’s image. We love our TSTC.”

For Harlingen and TSTC, National Make a Difference Day allows them to get one step close to completing the beautification process along the entire expressway in Harlingen. It will take several more years to finish.

TSTC’s volunteer hours during National Make a Difference Day were valued at $14,814, a hefty cost savings for the city.

For more information on TSTC and the programs it offers, visit tstc.edu.